Sarah Jacobs
stories from the positive side
By Resident Contributor, Dave Jacobs
In April 2008, just a few months shy of my 16th birthday, our family moved into Shaddock Creek Estates. My parents loved the neighborhood, the location and the easy access to Pink Elementary School, Griffin Middle School, and Wakeland High School. We decided to move right before the summer began so that Rachel and I could meet some friends in the neighborhood before the following school year.
I still vividly remember, my sister Rachel and I, sprinting up the curvy staircase so excited to choose our new bedrooms. School mornings were always chaotic, and I no longer had to share a bathroom with my younger sister. And, now about to turn 27 years old, I am still glad that they chose Shaddock as I value my educational experiences and close friend- ships in the neighborhood which I still maintain.
In April 2008, just a few months shy of my 16th birthday, our family moved into Shaddock Creek Estates. My parents loved the neighborhood, the location and the easy access to Pink Elementary School, Griffin Middle School, and Wakeland High School. We decided to move right before the summer began so that Rachel and I could meet some friends in the neighborhood before the following school year.
I took advantage of the many different opportunities at Wakeland High School but feel that the Ready, Set, Teach program offered through the CTE Center was an especially important path in determining my career choice. As a junior, I learned a great deal from this internship based program for students interested in working with children, mainly in the field of education.
In 2010, after graduating from Wake- land High School, I attended The University of Oklahoma. I had only applied to one college even though
I knew it was a considerable risk. Words can not even describe how I felt when I received and then opened the acceptance letter to my dream school. I have always wanted to be a teacher, so there was no debate about the course of study. I enrolled in the College of Education, and shortly after that, I signed up for Sorority Rush Week which was held a few weeks be- fore classes commenced. Rush week was quite an experience, and I am so happy that I decided to try it. There were plenty of blisters, laughter, and tears and I ended up pledging Delta Gamma! Our motto is “Do Good”! (My mother is also a Delta Gamma as well as a teacher). A few semesters in, I remember calling my parents to tell them that I wanted to pursue a degree in Spanish and become a Spanish teacher.
My parents were surprised but very supportive.
To accelerate my language acquisition, I chose to study abroad for a semester during my senior year at The University of Granada in Spain. It was an exceptional experience, and I loved learning about the culture.
Today, I am a Spanish teacher who loves teaching students not only the language itself but the appreciation for its culture. My personal style of teaching brings enthusiasm, cultural elements, and technology into the classroom to increase learning motivation. I teach with a contagious smile and open personality that helps me interact with my students as I guide them through the learning process. My students know how much I love to teach them, and the passion and energy I devote to their education is often translated into their passion for thinking and learning.
My journey has now come full circle, and I am glad to announce that I will be living again in the Frisco area. In the past, I have tutored neighborhood students in Spanish and look forward to tutoring again. My parents still live in the same house, and I won’t be too far away as Shaddock Creek always feels like home to me.
My name is Dave Jacobs; I live here in Shaddock Creek with my wife, Kim, and my daughter, Rachel. I am truly blessed to have been brought up by parents who cared about thinking positive, being positive, and motivating others to do the same. Now, I love recognizing the every-day “Positive Efforts” of people and encouraging others to Think Positive, Be Positive and Motivate others to do the same.
I’ve started a Facebook page www.facebook.com/ThePositiveSideLLC with Instagram and Twitter accounts as well as a website called “The Positive Side,” where we post positive sayings, inspirational stories, and sometimes, even give away cash and gift cards just to encourage positive acts.
April 2019 • Creek Life
